UC Application Deadline Guide (2025)

The University of California (UC) schools are some of the most popular, sought-after campuses for incoming freshman and transfer students across the country. With over 200,000 applications submitted to the UC system each year, gaining admission to these esteemed institutions is growing into a more competitive process than ever before. However, with careful navigation of the application and admissions process, students can strategically decide which UC campus (or campuses) are right for them, stay on top of all of the critical deadlines, and be prepared for decision season.

The purpose of this blog article is to cover application deadlines for the UC admissions process - how the UC admissions system works, key deadlines to keep on the calendar, and more. This way, you can plan ahead and ensure your UC applications are submitted before the big day.

Table of Contents:

• What Is The UC Application Deadline?
• Specific UC Campus Deadlines
  • UC Berkeley
  • UC Davis
  • UC Irvine
  • UCLA
  • UC Merced
  • UC Riverside
  • UC San Diego
  • UC Santa Barbara
  • UC Santa Cruz
• UC Transfer Application Deadlines
• UC Admission Requirements
• UC Admission Decision Date
• Additional Resources

What Is The UC Application Deadline?

The UCs or the UC system refers to a centralized admission system for 9 different campuses across the entire state of California. These campuses include:

• UC Berkeley
• UC Davis
• UC Irvine
• UCLA (Los Angeles)
• UC Merced
• UC Riverside
• UC San Diego
• UC Santa Barbara
• UC Santa Cruz
  

What is the fall application deadline due for freshman students?

Regardless of how many campuses an applicant is looking at, the most important date to remember is November 30th at 11:59pm PST - this is the application deadline for all University of California schools, no matter what other myths students may have heard. If this date is a weekend or public holiday, then the deadline is the next working day. For an even more extensive breakdown and other key dates for both freshmen and transfers, check out the dates and deadlines section of the UC website. While all UC schools have fall applications for freshman students, some UC schools also offer winter applications.

 Other key dates for all students looking to enroll in fall of each year are listed below:

When are early applications due for freshman students?

Another important piece to consider when applying to one of the UCs is that none of the University of California schools offer early application or early decision to their applicants. While you may have heard that applying through early action or early decision may increase a student’s chance of admission, this is a consideration that doesn't need to be made while considering applying to any of the UCs - whew.

When are early applications due for transfer students?

Depending on whether a student is applying as an incoming freshman or as a transfer student, there are some nuances between what is required for each type of application. However, many of the key deadlines are the same. For more information, navigate to our section below on UC Transfer Application Deadlines.

Specific UC Campus Deadlines

While the key deadlines (notably, the fall application deadline for freshman and transfer students) are the same across all UC schools, there is some variation between how each school evaluates applications and what deadlines they set for certain pieces of information to be submitted. We’ll break down some of these differences between the 9 schools below to give you an idea of how they can be unique, but it’s important to check out each website and reach out for advice from each school if you have lingering questions.

UC Berkeley Application Deadline

Important Dates and Considerations

• As with all other UC campuses, the fall application deadline for UC Berkeley for freshman and transfer students is November 30th at 11.59pm PST. Scroll up to the What Is The UC Application Deadline section of this blog post for more information that applies to all UCs, or down to UC Transfer Application Deadline if you’re applying as a transfer student.
• UC Berkeley sends out exact dates of when decisions will be posted in the confirmation email that applicants receive upon submitting their final application. However, some key time frames specific to this campus are listed below.

Application Tips for UC Berkeley

• On the UC Berkeley website, they list some specific tips that both freshman and transfer students can use to optimize their application. They cover how to select the right major, how to use the “additional comments boxes” within the UC application portal, and even a breakdown of how they’d like to review your academic history.

UC Davis Application Deadline

Important Dates and Considerations

• As with all other UC campuses, the fall application deadline for UC Davis for freshman and transfer students is November 30th at 11.59pm PST. Scroll up to the What Is The UC Application Deadline section of this blog post for more information that applies to all UCs, or down to UC Transfer Application Deadline if you’re applying as a transfer student.
• UC Davis has a timeline breakdown for all applicants listed on their website. They’ve even broken it down into key deadlines for freshman applicants versus key deadlines for transfer applicants, covering everything from August to May of the application cycle.

Application Tips for UC Davis

• UC Davis also has a section of their website that provides freshman students with a specific list of tips to consider when completing the application. From how to report honors courses to selecting the right major to how they review applications, they provide it all.
• UC Davis has also put together a list of application tips specifically for transfer students - score!

UC Irvine Application Deadline

Deadline Details and Application Guidance

• As with all other UC campuses, the fall application deadline for UC Irvine for freshman and transfer students is November 30th at 11.59pm PST. Scroll up to the What Is The UC Application Deadline section of this blog post for more information that applies to all UCs, or down to UC Transfer Application Deadline if you’re applying as a transfer student.
• UC Irvine has 2 separate pages on their website, each of which outline the different components of the freshman application versus the transfer application, alongside many of the commonly asked questions that students may be wondering at this moment in time. Some key dates not included on these pages are listed below.

UC Irvine Admission Requirements

• Like all of the other University of California schools, UCI requires freshman applicants to submit the UC application alongside a few other key pieces of student information, all of which are included on their website. We also break down exactly what goes into the UC application a little later.
• For transfer applicants, UCI has listed out all of the admission requirements on their website, and even has a more exhaustive list that is broken down by each school.
• UC Irvine has also included an extensive list of common mistakes and questions that applicants have on their website. For more application tips, they even post some on their instagram!

UCLA (Los Angeles) Application Deadline

Key Dates and Admission Tips

• As with all other UC campuses, the fall application deadline for UCLA for freshman and transfer students is November 30th at 11.59pm PST. Scroll up to the What Is The UC Application Deadline section of this blog post for more information that applies to all UCs, or down to UC Transfer Application Deadline if you’re applying as a transfer student.
• In addition to the UC application that is required of every incoming student at UCLA, they have broken down the freshman requirements and the transfer requirements into 2 different pages on their website. Some key dates for UCLA applicants are below.

Notable Information for UCLA Applicants

• UCLA has also provided some supplemental information on their website about selecting a major and the “supplemental applications” that might go along with a certain major if a student “declares” one while submitting their application. Something to keep in mind in case there is an extra essay…

UC Merced Application Deadline

Key Dates and Admission Tips

• As with all other UC campuses, the fall application deadline for UCLA for freshman and transfer students is November 30th at 11.59pm PST. Scroll up to the What Is The UC Application Deadline section of this blog post for more information that applies to all UCs, or down to UC Transfer Application Deadline if you’re applying as a transfer student.
• To no surprise, UC Merced also has a breakdown of key dates to keep in mind on their website, but they’ve even included deadlines around housing applications and orientation registration in this list as well - super convenient.

Notable Information for UC Merced Applicants

• Another perk of the UC Merced admissions process is the ability to make an “application appointment” for applicants to get their questions answered from someone on their staff. They’re one-on-one and can help answer questions about everything from your personal insight questions to your academic history.

UC Riverside Application Deadline

Key Dates and Admission Tips

• As with all other UC campuses, the fall application deadline for UCLA for freshman and transfer students is November 30th at 11.59pm PST. Scroll up to the What Is The UC Application Deadline section of this blog post for more information that applies to all UCs, or down to UC Transfer Application Deadline if you’re applying as a transfer student.
• Very conveniently, UC Riverside has broken down their “dates and deadlines” sections into individual first year and transfer student lists. Some key dates to consider if applying to different terms are below:

Notable Information for UC Riverside Applicants

• Something super unique about UC Riverside is they’ve listed out 54 different facts that make their campus, culture, and students unique - right on their website. We could try to summarize all 54, or you could see for yourself!

UC San Diego Application Deadline

Key Dates and Admission Tips

• As with all other UC campuses, the fall application deadline for UC San Diego for freshman and transfer students is November 30th at 11.59pm PST. Scroll up to the What Is The UC Application Deadline section of this blog post for more information that applies to all UCs, or down to UC Transfer Application Deadline if you’re applying as a transfer student.
• Like many of the other UCs, UC San Diego has a timeline on their website that outlines many of the key dates for freshman applicants. Some important ones are listed below.

• UCSD has a unique page on their website that also outlines some of the considerations that are made when their admissions committee is looking at applications. They cover everything from GPA to personal qualities that they hope their students embody. That being said, this might be a great page to look for some tips for ways to make an application stand out… just saying.

Notable Information for UCSD Applicants

• Like mentioned in the table above, March 29th is the deadline for applicants that weren’t admitted to submit an appeal. Not all UC campuses offer this, but it is worth looking into if a student is passionate about one campus in particular. There are some nuances here to consider before committing to the appeal process, and the chance of admission even after an appeal is small, but still worth noting.
• Not all, but many of the other UCs have an appeal deadline of April 15th. Keep this in mind when combing over final decision letters in March.

UC Santa Barbara Application Deadline

Key Dates and Admission Tips

• As with all other UC campuses, the fall application deadline for UC Santa Barbara for freshman and transfer students is November 30th at 11.59pm PST. Scroll up to the What Is The UC Application Deadline section of this blog post for more information that applies to all UCs, or down to UC Transfer Application Deadline if you’re applying as a transfer student.
• In addition to all of the important dates and deadlines from this past application year, UCSB keeps an organized list of the historical deadlines they’ve set for applicants on their website if students want to get a gauge of which dates will be important this coming year. 

Notable Information for UCSB Applicants

• In the past few years especially, more and more applicants have applied to UCSB, making it increasingly more competitive every year. That being said, it’s important to do some research around what kinds of students they look for and how to be a competitive applicant.

UC Santa Cruz Application Deadline

Key Dates and Admission Tips

• As with all other UC campuses, the fall application deadline for UC Santa Cruz for freshman and transfer students is November 30th at 11.59pm PST. Scroll up to the What Is The UC Application Deadline section of this blog post for more information that applies to all UCs, or down to UC Transfer Application Deadline if you’re applying as a transfer student.
• UC Santa Cruz has (of course) their own list of dates for freshman applicants and transfer applicants to keep in mind. Some of the key ones are listed below.

Notable Information for UCSC Applicants

• A fun page to check out for even more information about applying to UCSC is available on their page dedicated to out of state students. This could be an excellent source of extra info if a student is looking to move to California from out of state!

UC Transfer Application Deadlines

So you’re applying to the University of California school system and you’re looking to transfer in instead of starting as a freshman. The nice part is that there are many dates that are the same for both freshman and transfer applicants, and if a student is transferring into a UC, it is likely that much of their major preparation and general coursework is already complete. To find out if a student is eligible to apply as a transfer student, the UC admissions website has outlined all of the basic requirements alongside all of the ways transfer students can plan, prepare, and track their application process.

Key Dates and Tips for a Successful Transfer

As mentioned earlier, another nice part of the UC application and admissions process is that the timeline for both freshmen and transfer students are very similar. Key dates for transfer students are included below:

Are transfer students guaranteed a spot at a UC?

At 6 of the UC campuses, there is a Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) program. This is an opportunity for some transfer students to earn a guaranteed spot at a UC campus, if they meet the requirements. For more information on TAG or how a student can qualify, check out the UC explanation of the program alongside their matrix to determine eligibility. The specific UCs participating in the program include:

1. UC Davis
2. UC Irvine
3. UC Merced
4. UC Riverside
5. UC Santa Barbara
6. UC Santa Cruz

Common Challenges and Solutions for Transfer Applicants

The transfer process can be more complex than the freshman application process for a number of different reasons. Not to fret though - there are 3 main transfer planning tools listed on the UC Admissions website, including:

1. ASSIST: to help students determine which community college classes will count towards their UC degree requirements.
2. Transfer Admission Planner (TAP): to help students plan their coursework and gauge their progress.
3. Transfer Pathways Guide: to help students check if their community college courses fulfill specific requirements of certain transfer pathways.

We even host free webinars on the topic of transfer students if you’re looking to get even more detailed information about the transfer process.

UC Admission Requirements

For freshman applicants, you only have two concrete requirements to satisfy - woohoo! These include:

1. Completion of 15 college-preparatory courses with a letter grade of C or better. (There are exceptions to this rule for classes completed in winter of 2020 or in the spring of 2021.)
2. A GPA of 3.0 for California residents and 3.4 for out-of-state residents in the courses listed above. Wondering if you meet the mark? Check out their GPA calculator.

For transfer students, there is a more specific list of “basic requirements” that must be met in order for applicants to be considered for admission into the UC system.

For international students, there is also a list of requirements for you too!

Specific Requirements for Different UC Campuses

Like we mentioned earlier, the UC application is a standard way for students to submit the same basic requirements to all UC campuses that they are applying to. However, just like we explained how some deadlines can vary (but not for final application submission - which is still November 30th), some requirements for application submission also vary. For more information about what these variances could look like, make sure to carefully read the instructions outlined in the UC application portal. If you want to be one more step ahead of the game, make sure you grab your own copy of the Collegewise 2024 - 2025 UC Guide.

Explanation of UC Admission Decision Process

If a student is planning to enroll at one of the UCs as a freshman, the UC website has provided its own comprehensive list of all of the factors that go into the admission decision. If a student is going to transfer into the UC system, the UC website has also provided a comprehensive list of all of the factors that contribute to the decision of whether or not a student is accepted.

For more info, we’ve hosted a number of free webinars where our former admissions officers and current expert college counselors discuss the process of evaluating college applications. 

Common Mistakes to Avoid in the UC Application Process

• While it is a common myth, the UCs don’t secretly get together and strategize how to only admit students to one school each. Applying to all or even just a few of the UCs won’t hurt your chances of getting admitted to your “top” choice. That being said, submit apps to all of the campuses you’re interested in! (keeping in mind that $70 application fee…)

2. Not providing personal information that is relevant to your final application.

• Like many colleges across the US, the UCs use a “holistic” review process to evaluate applications. That being said, if a student has had a unique experience, is from a unique background, or has experienced unique circumstances throughout their high school years, it’s important to provide this information to admission officers.

• Extracurricular activities are not only vital for an admissions team to consider when looking at an application, but also critical for students to convey what their personal interests are, or where their time is spent outside the classroom. Make sure to take the time to fill this section out carefully.

For more information on how applications are reviewed and how to avoid some common mistakes, check out our recorded webinar on how college applications are evaluated.

UC Admission Decision Date

Students may start to hear back from their schools as early as March 1st. That means that between November 30th and March 1st, the admissions committees throughout all 9 of the UCs will be going through applications with a fine-tooth comb. However, there’s no guarantee that a decision will be made and that students will be notified of that decision by March 1st. Each year is different, each applicant is different, but most fall-term freshman applicants will generally be notified of their admission decision by March 31st.

Importance of Knowing Decision Dates

One of the most important reasons that it is critical to know decision dates before hitting “submit” on the UC application is because freshman students are only allowed to submit their Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) to one UC campus. Students should wait to hear back from all of their UC applications before completing this process, which has a deadline of May 15th for all 9 UC campuses.

There are a million ways to weigh the pros and cons of different schools, all of which can be helpful in choosing a college. That being said, it doesn’t hurt to start pondering how to choose the right college while awaiting these decisions.

What do I do until I hear back?

For some students, the waiting game can be the most difficult part of the application process. That being said, it’s important that students relax, give themselves credit for all of their hard work, and try to unplug so that they can enjoy the rest of their senior year! 

On top of congratulating themselves, a couple good habits for students to get in over this waiting period could include:

• Checking your email regularly, around 2-3 times a week (but not obsessively!)
• Checking your UC application portal once a week
• Keeping your grades up and finishing high school strong

Managing Expectations and Coping Strategies

While it’s great for students to be excited to hear back from their schools, it’s equally as important to manage your expectations, not put too much pressure on yourself, and practice some healthy ways to deal with the stress both before decision day and the day of. Ways to do this could include:

• Prioritizing sleep! Resting doesn’t necessarily happen by sitting in bed and scrolling on social media. Getting real shut-eye on a regular basis can help stabilize mood, stress levels, and keep your brain from becoming too overwhelmed.
• Give yourself some credit. The admissions process can be complex, stressful, and draining. Stepping back and recognizing yourself for all of the hard work, hours, and brain power is more than appropriate to do at this point in the process.
• Talk with your friends and family. While anticipating such a big decision, it’s critical that you consistently speak with both close friends and family about how you’re feeling. For the sake of a simple rant or perhaps striking gold with some really great advice, you never know what information your loved ones might have to offer.

Finally, remember that getting into a school (or not getting in) is not the be-all and end-all in life. There are infinite amounts of experiences to be had, decisions to be made, and places to go in life - especially as a young adult. The University of California schools are wonderful, but there are also plenty of other wonderful places to grow after college. One door closing means another will undoubtedly open!

What to Expect on Admission Decision Release Day

By January, each UC campus that students apply to will be emailed and prompted to create a login account to access their personal applicant portal. This is where the final admission decisions will be posted at some point in March. That being said, this portal should be checked regularly (once a week, like we mentioned above). Our two cents: it’s probably a good idea to bookmark these tabs once you receive these emails!

How to Check Admission Decision

By January, each campus that students apply to will reach out via email and request that they set up their applicant portal. This is the website where admissions decisions will be released, but lots of other important information will be available here as well. Some campuses will request transcripts, ask for extra documents, or send out other general pieces of information through these portals so it’s important to check them regularly. For more information on portals, admission decisions, and even waitlists, the University of California website has it all available.

Additional Resources

At this point, we hope that this blog post has answered your most important questions around the UC application deadline and how to address the UC admissions process. If you’re seeking additional materials to supplement your application, take a look at some of these additional resources.

• Find out more about everything you need to apply directly to the UCs on the UC website, and check out our comprehensive blog post on the UC application process.
• Take a look at the full timeline of the UC admissions process for both incoming freshman and transfer students.
• Understand the requirements for freshman, transfer, in-state and out-of-state students for UCs.
• Connect with one of our experts for a free 45-min consultation to learn more about how our college counselors can support you in your UC admissions journey.
• For additional information regarding the University of California schools, applications, and admissions processes, check out our ebook Inside the UC App: Tips and Tricks for a Stellar Application.
• Check out some of our previous webinars for essay support, research tips, and overall application advice!
• Still have questions? Grab a spot at one of our upcoming events and ask our experts directly! We host UC webinars once a month.

About Us: With more than twenty years of experience, Collegewise counselors and tutors are at the forefront of the ever-evolving admissions landscape. Our work has always centered on you: the family. And just like we’ve always done, we look for ways for your student to be their best self - whether in the classroom, the applications, or in the right-fit college environment. Our range of counseling, test prep, academic tutoring, and essay management, all with the support of our proprietary platform, lead to 4x higher than average admissions rates.